Chapter 52 A Night to Remember Part 2
The simple food and overall barren surroundings couldn't keep the smile from Tenten, now Mrs. Hyuga's face as she and her now husband Neji enjoyed a first little dance while the last of the food was getting ready. The music they danced too also came from a CD and a portable CD player, there was no live band here but none of that mattered, only each other really mattered.
Tenten smiled as she placed her head on Neji's shoulder as the song that they were dancing too came to an end. With that done they headed toward the main table which was highlighted by a large table cover. Since the wedding was so smaller all the tables where set up in a box formation with an open dance floor in the center of the room. Even the dance floor was nothing but bare concrete but it was all they had. Neji lead his wife around the table as their food was brought to them, there wasn't any true severs who would bring everyone's meal but a couple of shadow clones provided by Naruto did the job for the bride and groom.
The meal was simple with the highlight being smoked chicken and pork done by Kiba, the rest of the meal was a rice or potatoes with a selection of fruits or vegetables. Even the cake was box mix with factory made icing, it did however have a statue of a bride and groom on it.
"She looks so happy." Said Sakura to Naruto as they waited for their turn to go get food.
"This is what makes us human." added Ino beside her, the five of them shared one of the 4 tables. Sai sat at the end beside Ino while sat in the middle beside Naruto with Meiko at the end. The other tables each had five people sitting there aside from the bride and groom's table which had only Neji and Tenten plus Guy and since she was head of the human Hyuga clan Hanabi Hyuga. Hanabi seemed to be the only person currently in the room not showing any sign of fun. While everyone else had dressed up, with the expectation of Temari who had nothing fancier then her ninja gear she wore her ninja gear as well.
"Maybe we should have let Hanabi, take guard duty Anko or Iruka would have been a lot more fun then she is." Said Naruto
"She is head of the Hyuga clan it is her duty to be here." Answered Sakura with a sigh. "But yes, she is a drag on what should be a happy moment. Maybe if she got drunk she will relax more."
"I don't think so." countered Meiko "She seems like a very stuck up person to me."
"You may be right but still let's enjoy ourselves." said Naruto before looking at his sister. "I don't know did mom and dad let you drink?"
"No, well not officially anyhow I have tried it one or two times." Admitted Meiko
"Well if you want to drink some, I will not tell just don't overdo it." Said Naruto to his little sister with a laughing grin.
"Well let's go get our food." Said Sakura as they stood up and headed toward a table which was pressed against the wall where all their food and drink options where lied out. Naruto for himself took a heavy amount of chicken with a lighter amount of fruits and vegetables while Meiko took after her brother only taking beef instead chicken. Sakura also took chicken but mixed it with a salad, Ino did the same while Sai went for a more balanced meal with beef. With that done they went back to their seats to enjoy their meal.
Far away from the bunker the demons where preparing to carry out their attack on the humans hiding in the swamps. They had tracked them down to this location, they knew these where the humans which had slaughtered so many of their civilians in an attack on their home village. Now they wanted revenge even so they had to carry out scouting missions on their target. Demons capable of breathing underwater like water kami's and water rhyuus where sent in first and due to breathing underwater could scout out the camp and the general numbers of enemy before them. They saw the mud and wood huts that the locals used and the old ship which was being used as the base for the small ninja force. All this information was broadcast back to the demon force on larger ships which under the cover of darkness had moved almost right up to the edge of the swamp.
On board the main ship Dan stood in his full Bai Ze form, his silver antlers shinning in the pale moon light as in the water a water Rhyuu listened to the messages coming in from the scouts.
"Looks like we have around 75 people, the bulk of them are ninjas from the Mist with a handful of civilians of all ages." Stated the Rhyuu "They are in a couple of small buildings with a handful of small flat bottom boats used for fishing tied up alongside."
"Do we have any confirmed ninjas of high importance?" inquired Dan
"We have the former Mizukage Mei Terumi but other than that none have been spotted." Stated the water Rhyuu "Sir, does that really matter these are the monsters who massacred our people, aren't we going to return the favor?"
"We will punish them for sure and we will kill any ninja who stands against us." Said Dan as he thought about it. "Mei Terumi would be a major help in stabilizing the Mist, so if we take her we take her but we will spare the civilians."
"Sir?" inquired the Rhyuu
"The civilians didn't play a role in the attack so spare them." explained Dan "The ninjas don't deserve our pity, however a we do have a large amount of our force are former humans from the Mist. They may have family members among them, so we should attempt to capture but if not no matter. If possible, I want the Leaf ninja Konohamaru captured, I will deal with him personally."
"Understood." Said the Rhyuu as he sent the message. Dan quickly spread the orders to the rest of the demon force as they began their assault, demons capable of flight moved up into the sky while those who didn't used their chakra to stand on top of the water. Some of the attack force was former ninjas themselves, some from the Leaf but the bulk of them where actually former humans from the land of mist. They were hunting their former brothers and sisters in arms and they had the massive advantage they had the humans outnumbered, they had better equipment and most of all the element of surprise.
It began with a pair of guards standing by the water's edge watching for any signs of boats heading down the channel which linked the inland village with the sea. The two of them never saw it coming as two water kami's shot out of the murky water. One of the guard's life ended with a darkened blade going through his eye and into his brain. The other one wasn't given a quick death, instead he was pulled into the water where he was held down, bubbles coming out of his mouth as he struggled to get free all the while the water kami looking him straight in the eye. Within moments it was over and the demons advanced.
Back in the bunker the last table was getting their food, the last table of six was getting their food.
"This is really good meat, Kiba." noted Karui as she took a bite of the beef, she sat beside him with Shino on the other side by Shikamaru and Temari. On the other side of Karui sat the only other none Leaf ninja at the table, minus Meiko who would have been a Leaf ninja if she had been born in the village Fuu.
"Thanks, it was kind of a rush job or else I would have done brisket but chicken cooks fast and this is just pulled pork." Said Kiba as he looked past Karui and saw Fuu not even touching any of the meat he had spent hours cooking while the rest of the people where setting everything up. Instead Fuu was making a giant salad with not a drop of any meat at all. "What don't like meat?"
Fuu lifted her head up from her salad, she chewed for a moment before turning at him with a smile.
"I don't want your meat that is for sure." laughed Fuu as Kiba blinked, it was Karui who got it first and broke out laughing.
"Basically, she doesn't want your meat Kiba." Said Karui "She doesn't want to sleep with you."
"I get it." said Kiba with a roll of the eyes. "Not really that good of a joke, meat meaning well you know."
"Oh, I know." said Karui as she did a playful look between Kiba's legs.
"Looks like someone wants your meat." added Fuu as she laughed and it was Kiba's and Karui turn to both glare at her. To his right even quiet Shino was chuckling a bit at the comment from Fuu, this got Kiba to turn on his with accusing in his eyes.
"Life is too short my friend." explained Shino as Neji and Tenten to the dance floor once again for an official first dance. "Look where we are, we are in an underground base below an abounded city. The demons are marching across the world right behind the plague they started turning humans into their kind. We do not know what tomorrow will bring and yet we have come together to celebrate the union of two of our friends."
Shino turned his head slightly toward another table where Ino and Sai where in quiet conversion, beside them Naruto and Sakura where having a conversion as well however in their case Meiko would interrupt them from time to time. Then Shino turned toward the couple beside him where Shikamaru and Temari where eating quietly and talking of all things the history of the demons however on the table one of their hands where touching each other.
"In these dark days, it is good to know you are not facing the darkness alone." defended Shino as he went quiet again. For a moment neither Kiba nor Karui spoke up.
"I think that is the most I have ever heard him talk." Admitted Karui as their attention was pulled back to the dance taking place on the floor. Tenten had her head resting on Neji's shoulder with her eyes closed and a huge smile on her face. For his part Neji had his nose in Tenten's hair likely enjoying her scent while one hand rested on the small of her back pressing her close to him as they moved graceful across the floor. Behind them Kiba could just make out Guy at the main table with tears of joy running down his face, all the while Hanabi looked as if she was wearing a theatrical mask she had no emotion at all. As the song came to an end the newly married couple shared a kiss before Tenten moved and pulled Guy onto the floor. Since Tenten's own father had died in the flu, the honor of the father daughter or in this case Student sensei dance went to Guy. Guy's tears where more visible then Tenten's as they danced around the floor while Neji stood off at a distance with a smile on his face. When that dance was done, Guy guided Tenten over to Neji and after embracing him in a bear hug handed the bride back to the groom.
"To the happy couple?" inquired Karui as she lifted her glass of liquor up.
"To the happy couple, may they stay happy." said Kiba as the two of them touched glasses.
"And human." Added Karui as they both drank.
Everything seemed normal for Konohamaru as he sat in the tinny hut which he and Moegi had shared ever so briefly until that fateful mission. The hut was just wide enough for him to lie down if he wanted and covered with a roof made of a mix of logs and natural plant fibers holding it together. At least it was semi dry unlike everything else around her. He had his back to the wall when he heard it, the snap of a twig outside his hut. He instantly grabbed the kunai beside him and moved toward the door. Only he never got a chance to get move as a hand shot through the thin wood of the hut and grabbed him. It was a hand covered with thick green and brown scales with black curved claws instead of fingers.
"DEMONS!" yelled Konohamaru with all the air in his lungs and he brought the kunai down on the scaling skin of his attacker. The blade cut into the hand which had grabbed his leg and for a moment he was free and he ran out the door the blood covered kunai in hand only to see that he was surrounded by multiple different demons. "Fuck."
"Now…little boy what would your parents say about you talking like that, maybe they would wash your mouth with soap." laughed one of the demons, it looked like a horrible monster with an impossibly thin body and rows of sharp teeth in it's mouth.
"You killed them and took everything from me!" yelled Konohamaru as the sound of battle elsewhere within the camp reached his ear. "For Humanity!"
With that he lunged at the demon, who was caught unaware as Konohamaru smashed into him with all the weight his young body had, both of them fell to the mud which made up most of the ground here. Before the demon could do anything Konohamaru began to stab him like a mad man, spraying his blood everywhere showering him in the blood of his enemy. His blood sprayed all over Konohamaru as the other demons moved into the fight, Konohamaru wheeled on them with madness burning behind his eyes. He knew he was trapped, he knew he was surrounded, he knew that he wasn't going to make it out of here at least as a human and he couldn't be happier.
"I will take you all with me!" yelled Konohamaru as he charged toward the largest demon he saw, a giant bull like demon who's bull horns brushed the lower branches of the tree. This time Konohamaru threw his kunai before he got to the demon who blocked it with his own one-handed battle ax. While the demon blocked the attack Konohamaru pull a second kunia this one with a paper bomb on it, he didn't tackle the demon instead he slid between the demon's legs with the mud helping him slide. As he did he stabbed the kunia into the demon's leg and armed the paper bomb. Moments after Konohamaru was out of range the bomb blew up taking the demon, at least the lower half of him with it.
Konohamaru stood up and enjoyed his work for a moment, the blood of the first demon still ran down his mud-covered body and the second was now dead as well, the top half of his body stuck upside down in a nearby tree his lower half blown off.
"Who is nex…" started Konohamaru but he never got a chance as he felt something hard hit him straight in the back. He could tell instantly that it wasn't a sword or any cutting tool it was a flat pain and the worst part was he heard his back snap at impact. He lost all feeling in his legs and the rest of his body below the small of his back. He fell over face first into the deep black mud.
"Turn him over." Said a voice over him as Konohamaru was flipped over and he looked up at a demon, with brown and green scales with a pair of wings on his back. In his hands he held a massive two handed sword.
"Why didn't you cut him in half?" asked a nearby demon that Konohamaru couldn't see "Why hit him with the flat of your sword?"
"Didn't you hear his back snap? He isn't going anywhere besides I think this is the Leaf ninja who the commander wants." Explained the dragon like demon over him. "The one who attempted to kill the human which saved some of our people, Meogi I think that was her name."
"Meogi, is dead." Whispered Konohamaru weakly.
"See, I told you this is the one." said the dragon demon with a smirk on his scale covered face before turning his attention back to Konohamaru. "No, she is alive and one of us now, thanks to her we were able to track you down and put an end to you all."
The music was crisp and clear coming out of the top of the line portable music player taken from one of the stores above their heads. Even so the music was coming out of two rather small speakers and it would never live up to the either professional set up music system or more common in clan marriages live music. Either way the young man in women which had paired up on the concrete floor set aside for a dance floor didn't seem to care.
"Kind of beautiful." said Iruka as the older generation sat back and watched the younger generation have their fun. His eyes fell on Naruto who was dancing with Sakura, a smile crossed his lips as Sakura buried her head in the crock of his neck and he placed his head in her hair. For a second everything was picture perfect then Naruto stepped on one of Sakura's toes and the moment was broken.
"Seems like Naruto can't dance that well." stated Guy with a slight laugh as Naruto and Sakura went back to dancing as best they could, Sakura taking the lead and teaching Naruto some of the basics as they went. "Well I can't say I was any better when I went dancing with a woman the first time at the Spring fair when I was 14."
"Well Naruto could never go to them." countered Iruka with sadness in his voice, he had come down to get some food for Anko and himself. "Too much of a risk of the villagers attack him because he was a demon."
"And now most of those villagers are either dead or demons themselves." Said Shikaku as he sat with his wife Yoshino Nara, they would take the floor in a little while but for the moment they let the younger generation dance.
"Sakura seams to take the fact he can't dance in strive." countered Yoshino even though her eyes were on her son and the blonde hair ninja from the Sand, Temari. "These are dark days and truth be told part of me thinks we would be better off focusing only on a cure and not having these moments…
"But without these moments, what is the point of life." added Inoichi Yamamaka as he kept an eye somewhat on his daughter who was dancing with Sai. On some levels he didn't like Sai, but that was a father not liking any boy dating his daughter on the other hand he did like how loyal Sai seemed to be. Either way he would trust his daughter's judgement until he got more information about the young man who was currently holding his daughter in his arms as they moved across the dance floor.
"Besides." Said Hana Inuzuka who was enjoying a drink herself, she was in a strange position none of those here where of an age with her. Everyone was either a couple years younger than she was or a couple years older. "We are growing more cell cultures it will be a few hours until they are ready."
"I see." said Kurenai as she held her daughter close to her. "I admit it is moments like these that give me hope for the future."
"We all lost so much it is nice to see some good come out of it." Said Hana as she noticed that her little brother while not dancing was offer close to that dark skinned red head from the land of Lightning, Karui. She smiled a bit as the two of them had a small little fight only to end up even closer together as they both enjoyed their drinks.
Konohamaru couldn't feel his legs, he couldn't feel anything below his waste and at the moment he was thankful for that as he was being dragged by two demons through the mud toward the main area of the village. He could hear the sounds of screaming and he could hear the sound of battle but as he got closer to the center of the village he heard the sound of people crying and less of battle.
"Sir, we have the ninja you wanted." Said the demon on his right arm.
"Yes, we kind of took away his ability to walk or stand." added the demon on his left arm.
"No matter." Said a male voice as Kohomaru lifted his head up to see a deer like demon with large antlers and silver like fur. "My name is Dan, do you know I was once a ninja of the Leaf as well."
"So they turned you? Traitor." spat Konohamaru
"Not at all, I was under cover I was born in the village you destroyed and you murdered some of my friends and family when your slaughtered innocent people." countered Dan
"They are demons, they are not innocent." countered Konohamaru "You unleashed the virus, you destroyed humanity."
"Yes, we did." confirmed Dan with some sadness. "It was the only way to save our kind, it was either that or die out ourselves. We couldn't allow that to happen so we took the only path open to us, it was you humans which started this generations ago when you massacred our people in the ancient past."
"You will never get away with it, we will kill you." said Konohamaru
"I know I will die for this, I and my fellow council members already knew this but the pure demons who lived through the attack on the island will blend with the turned humans until in time no one will know who was pure and who was turned." explained Dan "And in less time than you think people will fully embrace their new lives as demons, as they rebuild their lives, find love and have children in their new demon form they will embrace it. We have seen it before and now we will see it on a large scale, it is hard to hate being a demon when everyone you love is a demon. In a generation or two this will be the new normal and in time humanity may not be more than a legend like you once considered us to be."
"This will never be normal, I will fight you forever." said Konohamaru "I am not afraid to die."
"Oh, I am not going to kill you." said Dan before turning away and looking to his right and left. "I am not going to kill any of you?"
With a lot of pain Konohamaru turned his head and looked to his right to see all the civilians who had called this place home and had gave them protection. To his left was maybe a dozen living ninjas from the land of water, all of them where restrained in some way. Among them looking half dead with her right side badly burned was the Mizukage herself Mei Terumi.
"I will sentence you all to the thing you really do fear, I sentence you to live as a demon." explained Dan as Konohamaru struggled to get away, he managed to slip free only to fall face first into the mud. Dan ignored him as he was lifted off the ground again. "To the civilians you had nothing to do with the mass murder you will be given your freedom after the turn and take you to the main land where you will be given an operating to make new lives and integrate into the new society."
"But our home is here." Protested an old woman, she seemed more upset about leaving her home then giving up her humanity.
"I am sorry but we did too much damage to this place in our attack. You wouldn't live here for long." explained Dan
"Probably." admitted the old woman as she looked at what remained. "Can we have some time to gather family heirlooms and whatever is left of our lives?"
"Of course." said Dan
"Thank you." said another woman from the fishing village as Dan smiled.
"Now as for the ninjas who took part in the attack, let's see how you enjoy life as a demon. Maybe after a few years imprisoned and getting to understand the nature of your crimes you will enjoy what you have become." explained Dan
"Never!" cried Konohamaru
"You will last so you." Said the demon holding Konohamaru by the arm as another demon behind Dan performed a summon. In a puff of white smoke, a large planet creature appeared.
"You should hope that the holy plant can repair your legs or else you will be dragging your feet forever." Said the demon holding the other arm as Konohamaru fought to get free as they dragged him toward the waiting plant. There was no escape as Konohamaru looked up in fear as the plant opened its mouth to show the long needle like teeth, then with a snap it came down to steal his humanity away from him.
Meiko Namikaze wasn't dancing, she didn't really have a dance partner so instead she watched. Sakura and her brother Naruto had taken a few turns dancing with her to make sure she was included but for the most part they danced with each had kept herself entertained by using a camera taken from one of the stores above to become the unofficial wedding photographer. She was snapping photos left and right as she worked the camera to get as many photos of everyone she could. She was focused mostly on the bride and groom but there would be a lot of shots of her brother and Sakura along with the others. She had even captured the moment when Kiba and Karui had taken to the dance floor together. Getting a little tired she returned to her seat and began to drink some iced tea when she noticed that Hanabi Hyuuga, the only person in the bunker of age with her was sitting there with her hands crossed over her chest.
With a resigned shrug the young Namikaze walked over to the young Hyuuga and sat down beside her without saying a word. Hanabi raised an eyebrow at the move but didn't say anything instead went back to glaring at the scene before her.
"Nice wedding isn't it." stated Meiko
"No it wasn't." countered Hanabi "It was an insult to everything the Hyuuga clan holds important and if you demons had never come it would never had happened."
"From what I heard, the two of them where dating before this started." countered Meiko slightly confused at the statement.
"They were but that was because some on the clan council wanted to buy out Tenten's parents weapon shop and decided that the best way to do that was to get Tenten into the clan. Her parent's shop was the best in the Leaf and adding it to clan holdings was seen as a major boost to the clan." Admitted Hanabi "My father was against that and so am I. It destroys the natural social order of society, that is what you demons destroyed."
"Social order of society?" Inquired Meiko with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, there are proper levels and one should stay in those levels." explained Hanabi as she crossed her arms. "Your brother and you are Namikaze's that is a middle level clan with arguable a lot of power given the 4th Hokage but he was a rare case. A middle level clan member should marry and be with another middle level clan member like a Haruno for example. Having your brother date or marry Sakura is fine, both clans are equal on the social standing, both are middle level clans and therefor on the same social order. The Hyuuga clan is among the highest clans in any part of the world and Tenten doesn't even have a clan name, she is on the lowest levels to raise her to a Hyuuga is an insult to everything even if would bring wealth to the clan."
"But they love each other, they seem good for each other." countered Meiko as she began to get a sense of how this young woman her own age saw the world and didn't like it. "You don't care about love do you? You don't even care about being human or demon? You only care about the social position of your clan."
"For the most part, with so much death and destruction caused by you demons and the flu the whole social structure is forever changed." Countered Hanabi "Look at the dresses the women are wearing, the suits the men have on. None of that really belongs to them but in this world no one cares now. A whole new society is going to be built and that is at the cost of the old one."
"Well you are a self-centered bitch." countered Meiko as she stood up. "I came over hoping to be nice and talk to someone who looking lonely, I am sorry I came."
"So am I, now get away from me Demon." hissed Hanabi "Once the Bride and Groom level my traditional duty in the wedding is over and I can leave."
As Meiko headed back to her seat the clock strike midnight and the last dance for the bride and groom began. It was a beautiful moment as the dance floor cleared and Tenten and Neji had it all to themselves again. Then when the music stopped Neji lifted Tenten into his arms and carried her out the door toward their room.
"So what happens now?" inquired Meiko as she walked up to her brother and Sakura, both of them smelled of liquor/beer but that was the true for everyone as far as she could tell. She saw Kiba and Karui both of whom seamed a lot more drunk then her brother and Sakura head out the door, Karui pulling Kiba along with a large bottle of whisky in her hands. Ino and Sai where still on the dance floor enjoying a private slow dance, while Shikamaru and Temari where sitting very close together talking and sharing one of the deserts together.
"I think most of us will party for a little bit longer or head to our beds." explained Naruto with a slight smirk.
"Alright, I am going to go to bed myself." said Meiko "Have fun with Sakura."
"I will have fun with him." teased Sakura as she kissed Naruto before the two of them headed out the door.
The sound of music was fading as the wedding began to break apart just after one in the morning as people began to head back to their rooms. Neji and Tenten were heading back to their room to enjoy their wedding night but the two of them where not alone to have some more mature fun. The moment the door closed to Sakura's room she turned around and moved backwards toward the bed beckoning Naruto world her hand. Naruto followed at once as she stopped at the edge of the bed allowing him to come in close. She pulled him closer as a full make out session began that would lead to so much more.
"Nar..uto..kun." moaned Sakura in between breaths as she lied on her back while Naruto gently undid the dress she was wearing. His was busy planting kisses down her neck and toward her breasts while one of his hands was pulling on the zipper holding her strapless top on. He was pulling on the zipper when suddenly he stopped and pulled away from her his head snapping toward the floor below her bed.
"What the fuck." Cursed Inner Sakura as she looked in the same direction, then she heard it too. It was an influx of air running through the ventilation system followed by a slight cracking sound. "Ah…just the incinerator turning on. He has demon hearing he can hear that a lot more then I can, maybe some music will help."
"Naruto-kun." purred Sakura as she moved one of her hands to the side of Naruto's cheeks brushing the whisker marks which graced them. She gently pulled Naruto's head away from the sound of the incinerator being turned on back to her. "It is just the incinerator we use it to destroy medical waste. The incinerator backs up to the room below mine."
"Ah…I hadn't heard it before." answered Naruto with a smile as he moved up a bit and kissed her on the lips before the two of them fell backwards onto the bed. Sakura's body was screaming in joy and pleasure knowing of what was coming soon ran through the basic side off her mind. However instead of joining her inner self in Naruto's embrace part of her mind couldn't enjoy herself something wasn't right. Naruto was had almost finished her top and she was finishing undoing his belt and pants when it hit her.
"Wait…Naruto-kun stop!" ordered Sakura and to his credit Naruto did stop but with a look of disappointment and confusion in his blue eyes.
"What is it?" inquired Naruto as he checked his wallet and the slightly open nightstand where a condom box was visible, "We have condoms so we are good there."
"No…it isn't that, it is just the incinerator." Said Sakura as Naruto blinked.
"So you said that sound was the incinerator and we should ignore it." countered Naruto
"Yes, but we already destroyed all our used samples last night there is nothing to be burned so it shouldn't be on." Explained Sakura as she jumped off Naruto and hurried to get her top back on, the hair on the back of her neck raised. "Something is wrong."
"Are you sure?" inquired Naruto with concern in his voice as well.
"I am." confirmed Sakura her green eyes blazing with fear and concern as she wondered what it could be. With romance and sex almost totally forgotten Sakura was first out the door, she didn't even waste time with shoes instead running down the hall as best she could in her dress with fish net stockings on her feet. Naruto was behind her, he had taken the time to slip his shoes back on but his tie was forgotten back in Sakura's room. Sakura arrived at the door to the medical research area first.
"Please God let it be that someone just forgot to turn off the timer for the stupid thing." Said Sakura out load to herself as she pushed open the door to the lab to find strangely intact. Nothing really looked out of place all the machines where still in their spots but then she noticed that none of the paper work was visible and the cell cultures where gone.
"No…please God no." said Sakura as she moved toward where the cell cultures where suppose to be only to find them gone. Seconds after confirming they were gone she shut off the incinerator and looked around the room. The paper work was gone as well, all of it. Then she tried to turn on one of the machines, it didn't turn on. She tried a second one, it too failed to turn on. She opened up the cover to one of them only to find all the hardware inside had been ripped out. She went to a wall mounted computer, one that was hardwired into the base and tried to pull up the medical reports, any medical reports. They too were gone. She ran her hands through her hair and with wide eyes she turned toward the incinerator, knowing where all of it had gone.
"Damn, that snake and his wore." cursed Sakura as she knew deep down who had done this. Who had taken the time to purge all the records, destroyed all the cell cultures and machines but still make the place look the same to someone who was just sticking his or her head in.
"How bad?" inquired Naruto
"We lost it all, everything is gone." answered Sakura with a mix of sadness and anger in her voice. "It had to be Karin, Sasuke that fucking son of a bitch is only thinking about himself. They are going to turn himself over to the demons, to save himself from the flu and betray us all. All of Humanity, he would doom all of humanity to save his own worthless skin. That fucking son of a bitch."
Before Sakura could say anymore she heard Naruto talking to himself, she turned to see him talking into a wall mounted phone. He hung up and looked at her.
"They haven't tried the door and last time the people in the guard post saw them Sasuke, Suigetsu and Karin where going into the room Sasuke and Karin share." Stated Naruto
"That bitch." cursed Sakura her blood boiling "Karin said that Orochimaru kept a second hidden escape tunnel, it must be in there. They have already escaped, which means."
Before Sakura could finish the bases, alarms began going off as the people on guard duty alerted every one of the coming threat it wasn't here yet but it would be soon.
"We are out of time, they will be coming for us." Said Naruto with a haunted look in his blue eyes. "The question now is how long do we have and what options do we have on top of that?"
It was just past 2:30 in the morning and just like they had told they had gathered in the lobby of the hotel which they were using as their base of operation in the area. All of them where in sitting in the multiple chairs which had once been used by the hotel guests while they waited or lounged around with drinks in their hands. The entire room was slightly a glow, the light sources came in the form of a large battery powered camping lamps which casts light in long shadows around the room. The other source came from Rin herself, as a fire Kami she was living fire and slightly glowing.
"Take your bets is this just a waste of time?" inquired Kane Inuzuka as he sat at in a lounge chair as best he could consider it wasn't designed to sit an Inugami which was slightly larger than a normal human and with a tail. With no place for his tail to go it wrapped around his body to one side, it was how his wife had to sit as well, while others had it worse like Mr. Haruno which couldn't really sit well considering the massive size of a Ushi-oni. Only Kakashi and Rin sat with ease in the chairs. Kane for his part was enjoying himself slightly with a fine cigar in his muzzle mouth and a glass full of fine liquor in his clawed hand.
"If it gets our kids back, it is not a waste." countered Kushina as she sat beside her husband with one of the camp lights sitting on the coffee table in front of them. The light caused casts long shadows around the room.
"It isn't a waste." said Minato as he turned his gaze toward the entrees of the hotel, a moment after he had head it so did his wife. Both stood up and looked toward the door as two figures moved toward the light. One was slightly taller than the other but was being held up by the smaller figure.
"I'll be damned." exclaimed Kane as all the demons stood up as the two figures came into the light. One was a man, a young man dressed mostly in black with jet black hair and dark eyes. He looked as if he had been through hell and what was worse was that he was clearly in a level 3 infection. His face was covered with large blood-filled boils and his skin was a bright red from blisters. Blood stains where clearly visible on his chin and the front of his shirt.
"Sasuke, long time no see." greeted Kakashi coldly as he looked at his former student.
The woman holding him up was of an age but had bright red hair which was straight on one side and wild on the other side. She wore a lilac shade top with long pants with rimmed glasses around those bright red eyes.
"This is how it will go down." stated Sasuke in a strong term of voice which shouldn't have been able to come out of a person who looked that weak. "We all go together to the plant, there I will be turned. If I survive Karin here will know at once and she will be turned. Once both of us are turned then a third member of our team who is watching us right now will come out and tell you where you can find your children and everyone else. Is it agreed?"
"Agreed." said Minato
"Then let us go." said Sasuke as with Karin's help they headed out the door into the cool night. The strange party of eight demons and two humans moved down the road until they reached the block U shaped building which contained the Furutsubaki-no-rei plant which would take Sasuke's humanity away from him. The long snake like neck of the plant uncoiled itself from it's hiding spot as it sensed humans nearby.
"Good luck Sasuke-kun." said Karin as she kissed him one last time. The kiss tasted horrible with the mixture of blood, plus and death on his lips and just like he always did Sasuke didn't return the kiss. Instead he allowed her to hold the kiss as long as she wanted and to be as passionate as she wanted. From the outside, it was clear while she loved him, he would have cared more about the weather then the woman pressing her body against his. Finally, she pulled away with tears in her eyes as Sasuke summoned the last strength he had and moved toward the plant. He only had to take a few unbalanced steps until he heard it snap forward. Sasuke stood still as the mouth came down on him with a snap.
He felt sharp needle like teeth of the plant sunk deep into his flesh, Sasuke didn't fight it as he was lifted off the ground and began his journey face first into the large stomach like organ of plant. It was full of a liquid which smelled horrible and tasted even worse. As he felt his boil covered skin fall away from his body and his internal organ shift inside him, Sasuke smiled even as the flesh around his lips fell away. The pain, the constant unending pain from his boils was gone.
On the outside Karin's eyes were locked on the swirling mass of liquid where Sasuke was turning. She had so much focus on the mass that she didn't even notice that all the other demon's eyes were on her, they were watching her almost as carefully as she was watching the swirling mass. Using her sensory type skills, she could sense Sasuke's chakra inside the plant, however it was changing and for a moment she was having trouble telling the difference between the plant and Sasuke. Finally, she could sense two different chakra sources one of them was Sasuke but different, that was when she watched the process of demon rebirth, which was more like throwing up. The plant through up Sasuke or what he had become in a the past couple of minutes. She ran to him forgetting everything else sliding across the stone walkway until she lied somewhat on her side beside him. She gazed down and was instantly hit with a mix of relief and of disappointment. Sasuke was indeed alive, he was breath steadily and as she placed a hand on his bare scale covered chest she could feel his heart beat. Karin scanned him breathily he was larger than he had been, not just in the chest but his whole body was over double in size however most of it came from the long snake like tail which ran from his hips down. Just as Suigetsu had predicted Sasuke had become a literal snake.
He wasn't a smooth snake his scales aside from ones which ran down the front of his face, over his neck and across his chest muscles before running all the way down to the tip of his tail was smooth, it was a dark silver in color. The scales around the rest of his body was covered in spikes, multiple small and large spiked horns where visible over his eyelids. This scales where pure just black with a couple highlights in silver patches.
Karin smiled loving as Sasuke's jet black eyes opened, his eyes where just as black if not blacker then the scales around the eyes.
"Sasuke-kun, your alive." Said Karin with a smile, she never noticed that the plant was coming for her. It didn't grab her by her feet, she screamed as she felt the teeth sink into her flesh. Sasuke made no attempt to help her as she was lifted high into the air and flipped in the air. Her red eyes widened as she fell face first toward the opened mouth of the plant. Like Sasuke she felt her body go down the throat of the creature into the stomach. Due to her being a sensory type she could sense her chakra leaving her body as new demon chakra came rushing in to take her place. She felt a burning as her cloths where burned away from her flesh followed moments later by the flesh itself, she could see chunks of it in the liquid she was in. Her hair was the same as her cloths as she felt her bone snap and break inside her body. Then came a horrible pain at the back of her head as she felt like her head was being ripped down across her back. When she screamed the transformation, liquid flooded her lungs speeding up the change as organs where moved and new ones grew.
From a distance Suigetsu had been watching the whole event, he felt sorry for Karin she had been tossed in the air like toy in some predators' game. He watched as Sasuke was dragged away from the plant, he could tell that Sasuke was moving but couldn't tell much more than that. Then he watched the same plant creature throw up the Karin. He could even tell that she was moving.
"Well looks like I have to keep my end of the deal." stated Suigetsu as he moved forward toward the demons. They noticed him right away, he raised his hands over his head to show he was unarmed.
"I am the third man, the man who is going to remain human remember. I heard we still have a deal." said Suigetsu as Minato nodded his head.
"Now where is our children." ordered Kushina with anger in her voice. "We held up our end of the deal, we want our children."
"I want to see Sasuke and the bitch." said Suigetsu as they lead him toward where they had moved to where Sasuke and Karin now where. They had tossed some wrappings over Sasuke's private area which was beneficial to Suigetsu. He was had become a giant black horned snake with multiple spiky scales over his body, he was highlighted with silver scales in some parts of his body. He was breathing steadily and his eyes where open. He was clearly alive but he was also clearly unable to fight.
"It will be a few hours before he can do anything really." explained Minato
"Well that will help you take care of your children." Laughed Suigetsu
"That is the plan." Added Kakashi
"So Sasuke, you're a black snake now." Said Suigetsu "Why am I not surprised?"
"Shut…up." Hissed Sasuke weakly with a lot of force on the each of the s, when he opened his mouth Suigetsu noticed that he now had a multiple sharp curved teeth in his mouth. If Suigetsu's memory served that meant Sasuke wasn't venomous but knowing Sasuke that only made him slightly less dangerous. "Suigetsu if Karin is alive honor our deal, if not still honor it."
"Alright, but you know if she is alive the bitch will want to jump on you will have to honor the other part of your deal." Said Suigetsu "I almost pity you, having her as the mother of your future children and snake sex that has got to be so messed up."
"She kept me alive this long, I will honor our deal and she isn't that bad overall." admitted Sasuke as he turned his gaze slightly toward where Karin lied on her back. She had become a snake creature like Sasuke however she was a bright red with smooth scales over her body with a highlighted large tiger strip pattern running over her body in a dark blood red. She was lying on her back which allowed Suigetsu to see everything, her skin scale covered skin was totally smooth but unlike Sasuke she had a cobra hood which ran from the top of her head shooting out until it was wider then her shoulders and curved down until it came down around her waist. She had pale cream-colored scales down her front which ran from the bottom of her chin over her breasts and down the front of her body until it reached the tip of the tail. Her eyes where open as well but it was clear she was still trying to figure out what had happened to her.
"So where are our children?" inquired Kushina
"They are in a sound base that Orochimaru set up under the lake." Said Suigetsu as if he was talking about the weather. "As for your children, last I know Naruto and his pink haired girlfriend had gone back to her room. Likely if you hurry you will catch the two of them in the act, asleep or coming down from the high."
"What?" inquired Mrs. Haruno
"Your daughter is likely getting pounded right now by their son." laughed Suigetsu before turning to the two Inuzuka. "Hell, your son was taking some overall flat chested women from Lightning to bed as well but both of them where so drunk I wouldn't be surprised if they passed out before they got too far. They had a wedding between Neji Hyuga and Tenten so most of them are currently either drunk or doing it, so they should be ease to get. Making your job all the easier"
"And how do we get to them?" inquired Minato wanting to get to the point.
"There is two ways, the one way they know of is through a tunnel located behind the closet of the private drinking room in the third basement of the bar over there." said Suigetsu as he pointed toward the restaurant/bar where the demons had enjoyed a drink a couple hours ago. "There is another exit hidden in the public beach restroom, in the pluming area twist the number 3 pipe all the way to the right and then hit the semi broken brick in the bottom corner and the door will open. Did you get all that?"
"Yes." said Minato as he looked at his wife. "Let's go get our children."
Well Sasuke and his group stabbed humanity in the back, but they didn't go out on noticed. Now until next time I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and I ask that you keep reading. Thanks Wilkins75.